This afternoon the second and third rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft will take place and we are now ready to predict who will be selected by the Arizona Cardinals. ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay once again have mocked the draft, projecting how the second round will pan out now that we have seen the actual first-round selections. We know when thinking about the Cardinals' needs, we must consider quarterback, linebacker (inside and out), offensive line and tight end.
My belief is that they need to address the pass rush in the second round, and many of you agree. However, McShay and Kiper both think the team will go a different direction.
According to both of them, the Cardinals will go with Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph, who is considered the best prospect at that position. He would be an immediate upgrade at the position and would provide a nice target for whomever the Cardinals 2011 quarterback will be.
However, it does not address their most pressing defensive need. Perhaps this is because the most talented pass rushers are unavailable. McShay has Akeem Ayers, Brooks Reed and Da'Quan Bowers all going before Arizona picks. Kiper's projections have only Reed going, leaving the Cardinals to pass on Ayers and Bowers.